The　understanding　of　reaction　mechanism　is　the　key　to　develop　the　highly　efficient　catalyst.　The　introduction　of　Pt　on　SO42−/ZrO2　surface　greatly　improves　its　catalytic　stability　in　n-butane　hydroisomerization,　but　the　function　of　Pt　is　still　in　controversy.　The　introduction　of　Pt　on　sulfated　zirconia　surface　only　promotes　the　hydrogenation　of　coke　precursor　and　slows　catalyst　deactivation　during　n-butane　hydroisomerization,　but　has　no　effect　on　the　initial　conversion　rate　of　n-butane　and　selectivity　to　isobutane.　H2-TPR　and　H2-TPD　investigations　reveal　that　Pt　functions　via　hydrogen　spillover　mechanism,　rather　than　classical　bifunctional　＇metal-acid＇　catalysis　mechanism.　Our　findings　provide　a　new　perspective　for　the　rational　design　and　synthesis　of　＇metal-acid＇　bifunctional　catalysts　for　alkane　isomerization.　©　2023